Method of and apparatus for controlling a circuit.



P. R. WERNER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A cmcun.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13.1915- Patented Apr. 9, 1918 INVENTOR WITNESSES PAUL R. WERNER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CIRCUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed October 13, 1915. Serial No. 55,671.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL R. WERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of and Apparatus for Controlling a Circuit or other Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

In devices of this character, as heretofore constructed, the frequency and speed at which the armature can be operated has been restricted to narrow limits due to the m0- mentary retention of the magnetization after the current has ceased to flow.

WVhen the impulses of the electric current through the electro-magnet follow one another close enough, the armature clings to the magnet, owing mainly to the residual magnetism, thereby causing the movement of the armature to be delayed sufficiently to .allow the succeeding magnetization to act on the armature before the first full cycle in the movement of the armature has been com pleted.

In contact devices for transformer coils as used with internal combustion engines and especially in automobile engines, consider able difiiculty has arisen in obtaining the requisite speed to provide a sufiicient number of sparks for the operation of the engine.

In prior magnetic devices, the operation Was retarded due to the time required to overcome the self-induction of the winding of the electro-magnet, and the magnetic reluctance of the iron employed in the core and armature, and the time required to build.

up the magnetic field.

In accordance with my present invention, I have devised a novel method and apparatus wherein the saturated magnetic field is fully developed before the movement of the armature takes place to close and open the circuit, thereby eliminating the lag due to the buildin up of the magnetic field, such as occurs in a l 1 prior devices with which I am familiar.

In accordance with m present invention, I preferably employ a pi urality of magnets, one or more of which are always magnetized. When one magnet is energized, the armature will be attracted to that magnet. The other oppositely placed magnet, when energized, will not be able to move the armature since such armature is in closer proximity to the first magnet. When, however, the current is interrupted in the first elec tro-magnet, the magnetic field, which has already been built up in the second magnet, will instantly move the armature from its first position to the pole of the second electro-magnet.

WVhen used as an ignition system, during this movement of the armature, the circuit is both made and broken through the transformer coil. The duration of the contact may be increased or diminished within cer tain limits, in order to get a larger or smaller spark in the secondary winding of the transformer coils by the proper construction of the cooperating parts of the contact actuating members.

I/Vith the above and other objects in view which will more clearly hereinafter appear in the detailed description, my invention consists in its broad and generic scope of a novel method of and apparatus for controlling a circuit or other mechanism, and although not limited to such use, it is especially adapted to be employed in conjunction with internal combustion engines, irrespective of the use to which they are put.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment typical of my invention, and by means of which my novel method may be carried out. It is, of course, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities a herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatical view of an apparatus for controlling the current for transformer coils embodying my invention and by means of which my novel method may be carried out in practice.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation of certain detail of construction.

Similar numerals of reference indicate correslponding parts in the figures.

. eferring to the drawings 1 des gnates a source of electrical supply, such as for example, a battery, which is electrically connected to the ground and by a line 2 with the contact mechanism 3. A mechanically operated switch 4 is preferably interposed between the battery and the contact mechanism. The contact mechanism 3 comprises a movable contact 5 carried by a spring 6 which" is connected by means of a fastening device 7 with a resiliout or elastic arm 8, one end of which is secured to an insulated stationary part of the mechanism by means of a fastening device 9.' The resilient arm 8 is normally maintained against the stop 19-by means of its own resiliency or if desired, an additional s ring element may be employed for this purpose. The free end of the arm 8 is outwardly and rearwardly deflected, as at 11, in order to form a stop to limit the outward movement of the free end of the contact carrying member 6.

12 designates a stationary contact which is electrically connected by means of a line 13 with the primary winding of the transformer coil 14, said coil being connected by a line 15 with the ground. The transformer coil 14 is provided with a condenser 16 and a secondary winding 17. The secondary winding 17 is connected by a line 18 with the secondary distributer of the ignition system, all of which will be clear to those skilled in this art, and I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to illustrate and describe such parts in detail.

The resilient arm 8 is provided with an armature engaging portion 19, the contour of which may vary widely in practice, it being only necessary that this portion cooperate in the proper manner with the armature 20. For convenience of illustration, I have shown the type of armature employed as comprising an arm which is pivotally mounted at 21, and the movement of the free end of said arm is limited by the stops 22 and 23 located on opposite sides thereofto limit the movement in either direction. In practice, the stops are preferably arranged in such a manner that the armature will not make actual contact with the iron cores of the electro-magnets.

In accordance with my present invention, I provide two electro-magnets adapted t cooperate with a single armature.

24 designates a commutating mechanism for controlling the current which effects the operation of the electro-magnets. The commutating, mechanism 24 is illustrated as adapted for an eight cylinder engine and comprises 8 stationary contacts 25, which are successively singly and successively in pair connected with the ground by means of a line 26, which is connected with the arm 27, in which is freely movable a brush 28, the detailed construction of which will be understood by reference to Fig. 2. The brush 28 is vertically movable in the arm 27 and it is elevated due to centrifugal force acting upon the weighted end 29 of a pivoted arm 30 carried by the arm 27. A stop 31 is provided to limit the downward mov ment of the weight 29 and in the form illustrated, this arm is carried by the shaft 32, which is operatively connected with the enine. g In the position of the parts seen in Fig. 2, the engine is at a period of rest, and the circuit is automatically opened, it being understood that the engine causes therevolution of the shaft 32 and thereby of the brush 28, and due to thecentrifugal force on the weighted arm 30, the brush 28 will be elevated into a position to contact with the stationary contact 25. The purpose of this is to prevent a short circuit being formed in case the engine should stop due to other causes than the proper operation of the switch 4.

Four of the stationary contacts 25 are connected with one electro-magnet and the other four are connected with the other electro-magnet, and the contacts of each set are alternately arranged relatively to the electro-magnets.

33 designates a line electrically connected with four of the electro-magnets and this line 33 is connected by the line 34 through the electro-magnet 35. The other end of the winding of the electro-magnet 35 is connected by means of a line 36 with the line 37, which leads through the line 2, switch 4, and source of electric supply 1 to the ground. The other four stationary contacts 25 are connected by a line 38 which communicates with the line 39 leading to the elecline 37 and thence to the ground thro 1 line 2, switch 4 and source of electric supply 1. v The electro-magnet 35 is providedwith a pole-piece 42 and the electro-magnet 40 is provided with a similar pole-piecef43, said pole-pieces being located in proximity to the armature 20 and preferably oppositely lo cat-ed with respect to each other.

The manner of carrying out my novel method and the manner in which the apparatus operates will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, and is as follows:

Assuming that the switch 4 is closed and that the brush 28 is in engagement with the two adjacent contacts 25, as seen in Fig. 1, and the armature 20 is in the position seen in said Fig. 1, then the current will flow through both electro-magnets 40 and 35, and the armature will remain in the position seen in full lines in Fig. 1.

The revolution of the shaft 32, which is operatively connected with the engine, causes a further revolution of the arm 27, and due to centrifugal force, the brush 28 is maintained in electrical engagement with the contacts 25. On such further rotation in the direction of the arrow seen in Fig. 1,

tro-Inagnet 40, the winding of which com- 1 municates by means of the line 41 and th I the contact will be broken withthe c ntact 25 connected with the electro-magnet 35, ,or'"

in other words, it is still in electrical connection with the electro-magnet 40, but this movement of the brush 28 causes an instant collapse of the magnetic line of force in the electro-magnet 35, thus releasing the armature. This permits the full magnetic force of the electro-magnet 40 to draw the armature 20 toward the pole-piece 43, or in other words, into the position seen in dotted lines,

at which time the armature will engage the stop 22 and during such movement from theposition seen in full lines in Fig. 1 into that seen in dotted lines in said Fig. 1, the armature will engage the portion 19 of the resilient member 18 to make and break the circuit between the contacts 5 and 12.

The making and breaking of the circuit in this manner causes the current to flow through the primary coil of the transformer coil 14, thereby inducing a current in the secondary winding 17, and this current is utilized through the distributer in the manner well-known to those skilled in this art.

On a further revolution of the brush 28, the electro-magnet 35 will be again energized, but owing to the position of the armature 20 with respect to the pole-piece 43, the armature will remain in the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1 until the current is interrupted by a further rotation of the brush 28, whereupon the magnetic field will cease to hold the armature, owing to the collapsing of the lines of force in the electromagnet 40. This permits the electro-magnet 35 to draw the armature from the posi tion seen in dotted lines into the position seen in full lines in Fig. 1, and the circuit to the transformer coil is again made and broken.

The cycle of the operation just described is then repeated.

Special attention is directed to the fact that in accordance with my present invention, it is necessary to pass but a small amount of current through the commutating mechanism, since the current used in the transformer coil, passes through independent contacts which are especially adapted for the proper handling of the current necessary to operate the transformer coil. By such means, the parts may be readily so proportioned as to handle the small amount of current, which it is necessary to employ to operate the electro-niagnets. I provide two circuits and am thus enabled to employ in connection with each circuit, mechanism specifically designed to handle the current of each circuit.

By operating in this manner, a considerable advantage is obtained over prior methods,'since the current which operates the transformer coil does not pass through the commutatipg means and I thus separate the timing element from the operating elemerit by placing such elements in separate circuits. I have also the advantage of being able to construct the commutating mechanism in such manner that the same will handle a smaller amount of current than usual and thus increase the durability and life of the commutating mechanism. If the current through the coil is directly broken through the commutating means, great erosion of the contacts takes place, owing to the fact that it is commercially impossible to make them of durable material.

By utilizing another circuit to control the coil, the contacts 5 and 12 may be made in such a manner that the erosion is very slow and a small amount of the expensive contact material is necessary, thereby enabling me to produce a commercial article at a very small expense.

One particular advantage of this device is owing to the lack of lag in the movement of the armature, the speed of same is much increased, and therefore, a more rapid movement and a greater frequency of the armature may be obtained, which will allow the production of a greater amount-of sparks to be used in the engine.

As the speed of the engine increases, any lag also increases and therefore the smaller the amount of lag to start with, the less appreciable will the lag be at the higher speeds.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I form a timing circuit which cannot remain short circuited and which includes electro-magnets having a common armature and a commutator. I form a preponderance of magnetic force alternately in each electro-magnet. I also form a working circuit including a transformer coil and the working circuit cannot remain short circuited.

It is within the scope of my invention to utilize the timing circuit to control or actuate any desired mechanism, in which case the other circuit may be dispensed wi h if desired. 7

If desired, the line 37 may be connected with a source of supply provided with a manually controlled switch the source of supply being grounded. In the form shown in Fig. 1, electrically I form two separate 115 circuits and if two sources of electric sup-' ply are employed, these circuits are physi cally as well as electrically independent. Instead of employing two electro-magnets coiiperating with a single armature, other 120 forms of clectro-magnets may be employed, such as for example, two-0r more pairs of magnets. or horse-shoe magnets.

It will be apparent that the line 18 may be connected to any desired type of appara- 125 tus to effect its operation or control and the current passing through line 18 may be utilized for any desired purpose.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful method of and ap- 18o of modification in various particulars with- 'out departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in forming a working circuit, and a timing circuit having electromagnets. one or more of which are always energized and provided with a common armature, and deenergizing an electro-magnet to effect the closing and opening of the working circuit.

2. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in energizing a plurality of electro-magnets having a common armature to cause said electro-magnets to have a substantially equal attractive force on said armature, and selectively deenergizing said electro-magnets to cause the armature to close and open the electric circuit.

3. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in energizing a plurality of electro-magnets to cause them to have substantially the same attractive force, and deenergizing one electro-magnet to effect the movement of an armature common to said electromagnets.

4. The method of electrical control, which consists in energizing a plurality of electromagnets to cause them to have substantially the same attractive force, deenergizing one electro-magnet to effect the movement of an armature common to said electro-magnets, and utilizing the movement of the armature to control other mechanism.

5. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in energizing a plurality of electro-magnets to cause them to have substantially the same attractive force, deenergizing one electro-magnet'to elfect the movement of an armature common to said electro-magnets, and utilizing the movement of the armature to control an electric circuit.

6. The method of controlling an electric circuit. which consists in delaying the action of a fully energized magnet, until the deenergization of another magnet allows an armature, common to both magnets, to be moved toward the magnet whose action was delayed, said armature controlling another circuit and there being formed alternately 1,11 each magnet a preponderance of magnetic orce,

naeaieo 7. The method of electrical control, which consists in delaying the action of a fully energized magnet, until the deenergization of another magnet allows an armature, common to both magnets, to be moved toward the magnet whose action was delayed, said armature controlling other mechanism.

8. The method of controlling a transformer coil circuit, which consists in energizing a plurality of electro-magnets having a common armature to cause said electromagnets to have substantially the same attractive force, deenergizing one of said electro-magnets, to permit the other electromagnet to move toward it said armature, and causing the armature during such travel to close and open the transformer coil circuit.

9. The method of control, which consists in utilizing one magnetic pull to hold an armature in opposition to another magnetic pull of substantially the same attractive force, said armature moving, when the first magnetic pull is removed, to control other mechanism.

10. The method of control, which consists in utilizing opposed magnetic forces of substantially the same attractive force, to open and close a circuit, each of said magnetic forces being alternately caused to predominate by diminishing the other.

11. A device'of the character stated, comprising a plurality of electro-magnets hav ing a common armature, means to cause each of said electro-magnets to alternately have a preponderance of magnetic force to move said armature, and means actuated by said armature to control other mechanism.

12. A device of the character stated, comprising a plurality of opposed electro-magnets having a common armature and substantially the same attractive force, means to cause one of said electro-magnets to have a preponderance of magnetic force to move said armature, and means actuated by said armature to control other mechanism.

13. A device of the character stated, comprising a plurality of opposed electro-ma nets having a common armature and so stantially the same attractive force, means to cause one of said electro-magnets to have a preponderance of magnetic force to hold said armature stationary, and to cause an opposed electro-magnet to have a preponderance of magnetic force to move the armature, and means controlled by the armature during its movement.

14:. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in forming a working circuit, and a timing circuit having electromagnets, one or more of which are always energized and provided with a common armature, deenergizing an electro-magnet to effect the closing and opening of the working circuit, reenergizing the elect ve-magnet which has been dee'nergized, and then deenergizing the other electro-magnet to again close and open the working circuit.

15. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in forming a working circuit and forming a timing circuit with electro-magnets having a common armature, there being always some one of said electro-magnets energized, and alternately energizing and denergizing each electromagnet to control the working circuit.

16. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in forming a working circuit and forming a timing circuit with electro-magnets having a common armature, there being always some one of said electro-magnets energized, and alternately energizing and denergizing each electromagnet to control the working circuit, and the working circuit being incapable of remaining short circuited.

17. The method of controlling an electric circuit, which consists in forming a Working circuit and forming a timing circuit with electro-magnets having a common armature, there being always some one of said electro-magnets energized, and alternately energizing and denergizing each electromagnet to control the working circuit, and said circuits being incapable of remaining short circuited.

PAUL R. WERNER.

Witnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MCVAY. 

